It’s been a long time since I’ve done an entertainment news post, but I’m feeling the urge to be productive this week. With the pilot season winding down and May upfronts coming, well, up, things are starting to get really interesting on which pilots may make it to series. I mean it’s still early and some haven’t even been completed yet, but I think it’s safe to make some guesses at this point.
TheFutonCritic has done a report of the most tracked pilots by the users on their site. This is important because in the past two years 8-10 of these tracked pilots were given series orders. The shows in their Top 10:
1) 17th Precinct, 2) Alcatraz, 3) Wonder Woman, 4) Locke & Key, 5) Charlie’s Angels 6) Prime Suspect, 7) Secret Circle, 8) Grimm, 9) Exit Strategy, 10) Poe
Even more interesting is the buzz that Deadline is getting from these same pilots. JJ Abrams’ Alcatraz is getting strong early reviews from FOX. With Josh Friedman at the helm and based on a graphic novel, Locke & Key is still getting buzz despite the pilot getting mixed reviews for being too slow and long for a network show. Still, FOX is known for taking risks, so it may turn out well in the end. Then, the pilot for Charlie’s Angels, directed by Vampire Diaries’ Marcos Siega, is considered a major contender for ABC. Meanwhile, Poe is also getting a thumbs up from ABC. Secret Circle hasn’t actually been delivered to CW yet, but it’s still going strong based on the support for its showrunner, Vampire Diaries’ Kevin Williamson. The Wonder Woman pilot had some script changes recently, after being laughed at about a month ago, but I still don’t think it’ll do well if it even gets to series. No word yet on the rest of the pilots in the top 10.
This week has also been noteworthy because of Hunger Games casting announcements. Ever since the main trio were cast a few weeks ago, it’s now been a race to fill out the rest of the District fighters and supporting character to begin filming in May. While most so far have been newcomers for Primrose as well as Thresh and Rue, they’ve also cast Terminator:SCC’s Levin Rambin as Glimmer and Elizabeth Banks as Effie.
There also seems to be a war brewing for who will actually get writing credit for The Avengers film which begins filming next month as well. Zak Penn of the new SyFy tv series Alphas wrote the original version, but word is Joss Whedon started from scratch for a whole new version. No word though on whether there’ll be problems later on who gets credit however.
Speaking of Avengers, fan favorite Jeremy Renner, who’ll be playing Hawkeye, is in talks to star in another Bourne Legacy movie. On the one hand, yes, give him more work. On the other, perhaps he’s getting to be a little over-saturated?
Don’t forget to catch the return of Dr. Who and new episodes of Game of Thrones and The Killing this weekend. Til next time!
I’m starting to get excited about the Fall season now. In a few months I might have a new favorite show.
I keep forgetting there is a Prime Suspect remake. I loved the original, but to me it had to be set in 1991, not today. Today with shows like Chicago Code and The Killing and many others in recent tv history having women in power as something that is matter of fact…having a show that turns up the sexism so it can match the original…I dunno.
The cops from the 60s, 70s, and 80s that you’d deal with in 1991 are a different breed than current law enforcement. These days you’d expect to run into a couple bastards, but not an institution of bastards. And back in 1991 it was odd to even see an actress given a role like that. A lot of tv shows weren’t even into that level of realism as far as drama goes. Forget having a female lead in a cop show. There was so much that worked with the original because of a shift in tv styles, casting a female character, old school sexism… The original holds up very well if you need some summer shows. Helen Mirren is as breathtaking as usual.
I actually haven’t really heard much about Prime Suspect, past or present, so I’m not sure how it’s so high on the list. Remakes always get a lot of buzz, I guess. I’m all for having another female character we can look up to on television. I just think there’s been other series recently with a female lead that are also procedurals. And I’m not sure we need more procedurals in the world. I like all you’ve said on the realism and such, but they need to adapt it as you said for today’s world. We’ll see if it gets picked up.
And Doctor Who is back tonight! :)